The Bible — notes and cross-references in The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians | Interpretation and commentary to chapter 1

1:1^a Paul

1 Thes. 1:1

1:1¹ church

See note 1 Thes. 1:1^1c.

1:1² Thessalonians

See note 1 Thes. 1:1².

1:3^a thank

1 Thes. 1:2; 2 Thes. 2:13

1:3^1b faith

1 Thes. 1:3; 3:6; 5:8

See note 1 Thes. 1:3^2a. In the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, faith and love were considered constructing elements of the believers' life for the church. Here, in this Epistle, faith and love are growing and increasing in the Thessalonians' Christian life.

1:4^a boast

2 Cor. 7:4, 14; 9:2-3

1:4¹ endurance

The endurance issued from and was supported by the hope of the Lord's coming back (1 Thes. 1:3). Such endurance resulting from hope is always accompanied by faith. Hence, the phrase endurance and faith is used here. Both endurance and faith are needed in persecutions and afflictions.

1:4^b persecutions

Mark 10:30; 2 Cor. 12:10

1:5^a indication

Phil. 1:28

1:5¹ righteous

God's judgment is righteous and just upon all men. It will be finalized in the future (Rom. 2:5-9; Rev. 20:11-15). The way God deals with different people in this age is an indication, a token, a proof, of the future execution of His righteous judgment.

1:5^b worthy

2 Thes. 1:11; Luke 20:35; Rev. 3:4

1:5^2c kingdom

1 Cor. 6:9, 10; James 2:5

The believers have been called into God's kingdom and glory (1 Thes. 2:12). To enter into this kingdom, we need to pass through afflictions (Acts 14:22). Hence, the persecutions and afflictions are a plain indication of God's righteous judgment, showing that we may be accounted worthy of the kingdom of God.

1:7¹ rest

Or, relief, ease, repose, liberty. In this age the believers suffer persecutions and troubles for the Lord. At the Lord's coming back they will be relieved of their sufferings and will enter into the Lord's rest and enjoy its liberty.

1:7^a revelation

Luke 17:30; 1 Pet. 1:7

1:7^b heaven

1 Thes. 4:16; Acts 1:11

1:7^c angels

Matt. 16:27

1:7^d fire

Isa. 66:15; Mal. 4:1; Rev. 10:1; 1 Cor. 3:13; Heb. 10:27; 12:29

1:8^a not

1 Thes. 4:5

1:8^b obey

Rom. 16:26

1:8¹ Christ

Some MSS omit, Christ.

1:9^a destruction

Phil. 3:19; 2 Pet. 3:7

1:9¹ presence

Lit., face.

1:9^b glory

Matt. 25:31

1:10^a comes

1 Thes. 1:10

1:10^1b glorified

John 17:10

The Lord is the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8); He was glorified in His resurrection and ascension (John 17:1; Luke 24:26; Heb. 2:9). Now He is in us as the hope of glory (Col. 1:27) to bring us into glory (Heb. 2:10). At His coming back, on the one hand He will come from the heavens with glory (Rev. 10:1; Matt. 25:31), and on the other hand He will be glorified in His saints; that is, His glory will be manifested from within His members, causing their body of humiliation to be transfigured into His glory, conforming it to the body of His glory (Phil. 3:21). Thus, the unbelievers will marvel at Him, admire Him, wonder at Him, in us, His believers.

1:10^c testimony

1 Cor. 1:6

1:10^d that

2 Tim. 1:12, 18; 1 Cor. 3:13

1:11^a pray

Col. 1:9

1:11^b worthy

2 Thes. 1:5

1:11^c power

Col. 1:29

1:11¹ good

Or, delight. The apostles prayed that God might fulfill the good intention, the delight, of the Thessalonians for goodness.

1:11^d work

1 Thes. 1:3

1:12^a name

2 Thes. 3:6

1:12¹ grace

The grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord Himself within us as our life and life supply that we may live a life that will glorify the Lord and cause us to be glorified in Him. See note John 1:17^1a, note 1 Cor. 15:10^1a, and note 2 Cor. 13:14^1a.